2 Kings 1

Study Guide 38: 2 Kings 1:1-8:15 DAYS OF ELISHA Overview Elisha was the apprentice and successor of Elijah. He too ministered in Israel, the Northern Kingdom. During Elisha’ s life, Ben-Hadad and then Hazael ruled Syria, building a powerful Aramean empire. The Bible, however, focuses on Elisha and only secondarily on the political and military situation. Stories of Elisha and his miracles have been the source of thousands of sermons as well as stories for boys and girls. A DOUBLE PORTION. When Elijah was taken into heaven alive, Elisha begged to “ inherit a double portion of [Elijah’ s] spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). The request reflects Old Testament inheritance law: the oldest son and successor of his father was given a double portion. Elisha was asking to succeed Elijah as leading prophet in the land. Interestingly, the Bible also reports twice as many miracles of Elisha as Elijah (14 compared to 7). They are: (1) separating the Jordan waters, 2 Kings 2:14; (2) healing spring waters, 2 Kings 2:21; (3) cursing jeering young men, 2 Kings 2:24; (4) filling ditches with water and winning a battle, 2 Kings 3:15-26; (5) multiplying a widow’ s oil, 2 Kings 4:1-7; (6) promising a pregnancy, 2 Kings 4:14-17; (7) raising a Shunammite’ s son from the dead, 2 Kings 4:32-37; (8) making poison harmless, 2 Kings 4:38-41; (9) multiplying loaves, 2 Kings 4:42-44; (10) healing Naaman the leper, 2 Kings 5:1-19; cursing Gehazi with leprosy, 2 Kings 5:19-27; (11) making an axhead float, 2 Kings 6:1-6; (12) blinding and trapping an Aramean army, 2 Kings 6:8-23; (13) showing his servant an angel army, 2 Kings 6:15-17; (14) and predicting an excess of food for besieged Samaria, 6:24-7:20.

Commentary Elisha was farming when Elijah came to him. He was working a rich man’ s fields, plowing with the twelfth of 12 pair of oxen. Elijah threw his coat around Elisha, claiming him for his service, and walked on. Elisha was ready to follow, but begged permission to say good-bye to his parents. Later Elisha killed the oxen he had been working with, and cooked them by burning his farm equipment. Literally “ burning his bridges behind him,” Elisha became Elijah’ s attendant and later, his successor. During the years of Elisha, Israel was constantly threatened by a powerful Syria, led first by Ben-Hadad and later by Hazael. Ahab was dead, but members of his family still ruled, and like their father followed wicked ways. Elisha lived to command the anointing of Jehu as king of Israel. Jehu destroyed not only Ahab’ s family but also wiped out Baal worship in Israel. The stories of Elisha give us insight into this critical period of Old Testament history, and help us to see God as One who remains involved in the lives of ordinary people even when the nation has strayed far from His ways.

Elijah’ s Appointment: 2 Kings 2:1-25When Elijah was about to be taken by God, other prophets were aware of the coming event. Elisha refused to let Elijah go on his last journey alone. On that journey Elijah asked his follower what he might do for him. Elisha quickly responded. “ Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). His later miracles showed he had been granted his wish. What a contrast between Elisha, who served Elijah so faithfully, and Elisha’ s own companion, Gehazi. Later that servant of Elisha’ s would run after a man Elisha had helped, and beg for personal riches (2 Kings 5:1-27). Elisha’ s ambition was spiritual. He sought only strength and enablement to serve God. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN We can’ t expect boys and girls to have the spiritual maturity of an Elisha. But we can encourage them to pray as he prayed. One way is to suggest “ matching prayers.” Make up a list of things children might pray for that would reflect Elisha’ s spiritual concerns. For instance: pray to be a good friend, to be a good student, to be helpful, etc. In class have your boys and girls suggest things to add to your list. Then give each a booklet made by folding a sheet of construction paper. Mark eight equal, paired segments on the inside back cover of the booklet. On the inside front cover write or have the children write your list of “ Elisha” prayers. Whenever your boys and girls pray for something they want, encourage them to match that prayer with a request for something on the Elisha list. Each can write down what he or she asked for first, and then, across from it, write the matching prayer from the list. Have stars ready to stick on each matching prayer when the children return their prayer record booklets. The events reported in 2 Kings 2:1-25 clearly served to authenticate Elisha as Israel’ s premier prophet, and as God’ s spokesman. Returning after Elijah had been taken up, Elisha struck the waters of the Jordan as his mentor had, and the waters divided. A watching company of the prophets understood the meaning of this act. “ The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:15). Elisha then dealt with a spring whose poisonous waters killed any who drank from it and made the land unproductive. This healing of the waters authenticated him in the eyes of the people of the land (2 Kings 2:21-22). Then, when some young men shouted out their ridicule, mockingly asking Elisha to “ go on up” to heaven as he had reported Elijah went, Elisha called a curse down on them in the name of the Lord. Two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42! Elisha’ s power was established even in the eyes of his enemies. Thus all who lived in Israel, prophets and common people and even enemies of the Lord, were forced to acknowledge that Elisha was the spokesman of God. NOTE: Older versions suggest the “ youths” who jeered Elisha were children. The Hebrew word indicates young men who were adults and fully responsible for their actions. Their jeering ridicule was not focused on Elisha’ s baldness, but on the notion that Israel’ s God was able to catch up the Prophet Elijah into heaven as Elisha had reported. What happened to this group was a warning to all the people of Israel to acknowledge and take to heart the fact that God is Lord in heaven and Lord on earth as well. The God of Elisha, the God of Israel, was not to be trifled with. Instead God was to be respected and obeyed. If only the people of Israel had taken this graphic warning to heart, they might have been spared the tragedies and destruction which all too soon followed.

The Nature of Elisha’ s Miracles: 2 Kings 4:1-44The series of miracles reported in this chapter are significant in several respects. First, they show the Old Testament prophet engaged not just in affairs of state but also in the lives of ordinary people. God is not just concerned with kings. God is concerned about the daily needs of everyone. Second, these miracles seem to prefigure some of the miracles of Jesus. Elisha raised the Shunammite’ s son from the dead, and multiplied loaves to feed a hundred. These clearly foreshadow Christ’ s raising of the dead and feeding of thousands. Third, each of these miracles was intended to enrich and save lives, just as every one of Jesus’ miracles was performed to demonstrate the love of God rather than His justice or wrath. Note each of the miracles, and some of its implications. The widow’ s oil. A poverty-stricken widow appealed to Elisha for help. A creditor was about to make her two sons slaves to satisfy a debt. Elisha had the widow pour olive oil from her jar into all the empty jars her sons could borrow. The creditor was paid off, and the family lived on the excess proceeds from sale of the oil. The poor have always been, and will remain, a special concern of the Lord. The Shunammite’ s son. A well-to-do woman, who lived in Shunem, welcomed Elisha whenever he passed by. She even had a room built for his exclusive use. Elisha wanted to show his appreciation. But the woman had no apparent needs. Then the prophet discovered one real need: the woman had no children, and her husband was old. Elisha promised her that she would have a child — and she did. Later, when the child grew sick and died, Elisha restored the boy to life. How wonderful that God knows the deepest, hidden needs of our hearts, and is willing and able to satisfy those needs. Poison stew. It was a time of famine, and a company of prophets gathered wild vegetables to make into a stew. One unknowingly gathered poison gourds. As the group began to eat the stew, the men cried out, “ There is death in the pot!” Elisha mixed some flour with the stew, and told everyone to eat. The poison’ s power had been drawn. Feeding a hundred. A few small loaves of bread were brought to Elisha. He told his servant to feed the company that was with him. Although there was not enough, Elisha announced God’ s promise: “ They will eat and have some left over” (2 Kings 4:43). God is concerned and involved in our lives. As we look to Him, He meets our material needs. But He also looks deep within us, and meets the hidden needs of our hearts as well. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN We can count on God to help us in everyday life. And we can count on Him to answer prayer for us, as He did for Elisha. How can we help boys and girls sense the Lord’ s constant provision and care, and give them a practical basis for expecting answer to prayer? We can apply a principle Paul expresses in Romans as he reminds us that God has given us Jesus. “ How,” Paul asks, “ will He not also, along with Him, give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) Reminders of what God has done for us help us trust when we come to Him in prayer. Work with the boys and girls to make a giant collage portraying “ How God Shows His Care.” Cut out pictures of the things God provides — food, clothing, housing, friends, toys, teachers, books, etc. Talk about how good God is to meet all our everyday needs. Assure the boys and girls they can count on God to answer prayer, because He shows us daily in the things He provides how much He loves us.

Naaman the Leper: 2 Kings 5:1-27Few stories in the Old Testament show the complex interaction of people and personalities as this short report. The commander of the Aramean army, Naaman, suffered from leprosy. In his household there was a young girl, captured in a raid on Israel. The young girl told her mistress there was a prophet in Israel who could cure leprosy. Like a modern cancer sufferer willing to try anything that offers hope of a cure, Naaman sought permission to go to Israel and seek a cure. A letter was sent by the king to Israel’ s king, simply saying that he was sending Naaman to Israel to be cured from leprosy. The king of Israel was shaken. Only God could cure leprosy. The Syrian must be looking for an excuse to invade Israel! Then a messenger came from Elisha, telling the king to send Naaman to him. When Naaman came, Elisha didn’ t even bother to come to the door. He sent a message telling Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Insulted, an angry Naaman headed toward home. “ I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot, and cure me of my leprosy” (2 Kings 5:11). The prophet hadn’ t acted as Naaman expected — so Naaman would go home. On the way, his servants urged him to do what the prophet said. Still disgruntled, Naaman did obey — and when he came up the seventh time, “ His flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” (2 Kings 5:14). Naaman immediately returned to Elisha, and acknowledged God. “ Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15). Naaman urged the prophet to accept a gift, but he would not. But Naaman asked a gift for himself: as much of Israel’ s earth as two mules could carry. From now on Naaman would worship only Israel’ s God. It was then that greed overcame Gehazi, Elisha’ s servant. He rushed after Naaman and begged about 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing in Elisha’ s name. He then hid the gifts, and returned to Elisha. Of course Elisha knew! Elisha announced, “ Naaman’ s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever” (2 Kings 5:27). What an interplay of personalities. And what a range of reactions to God. The little slave girl kept her faith in a foreign land, and spoke with confidence of the power of God’ s prophet. Naaman, desperate enough to go to an enemy land, became angry because the prophet did not act as he expected. And then, when cured, totally committed to worship the Lord whom he realized had healed him. Israel’ s king knew Elisha well, but he never thought of Elisha as the solution to the political problem posed by the Aramean king’ s letter. Elisha wanted nothing but to be God’ s agent in whatever way the Lord chose to use him. Gehazi, though familiar with the power of God that rested on his master, still supposed that he could safely lie in the prophet’ s name. How like men and women of today. Some of us humble, pointing others to the Lord. Some of us doubtful, but still willing to taste and see His power. Some of us, familiar with evidence of God’ s presence, but never thinking of Him as the solution to our problems. Some of us, unconcerned about the material, finding fulfillment in spiritual ministries. Some of us, close to spiritual power, but never recognizing its extent or letting God cleanse us of greed. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Ask your class members to read 2 Kings 5:1-27 individually, and jot down observations about each person they meet there. Then divide into teams, each of which is to focus on one of the following persons: the little Israelite girl, Naaman, the king of Israel, Elisha, or Gehazi. From the story each team should try to define: What was this person’ s concept of God? How is this concept of God expressed in his or her actions? As a summary, each team member should write a paragraph or two about the person his or her team studied, trying to sum up that person’ s character. Teams should then report their findings to the whole group. Go around the circle and share: “ What have I learned from one of these characters that I can apply to my own spiritual life?”

At War: 2 Kings 6-7 These two chapters of 2 Kings reveal Elisha’ s role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Aramean empire of Ben-Hadad. First, Elisha regularly revealed the secret plans of the king of Aram (Syria) to the king of Israel. “ Time and again Elisha warned the king” (2 Kings 6:10). When the king of Aram realized that his plans weren’ t being betrayed by one of his officers but by Elisha, he sent a strong force to capture the prophet. This force surrounded the town where Elisha was. When Elisha’ s servant saw the enemy army, he was terrified. Then in one of the most wonderful events recorded in Scripture, Elisha prayed that his servant’ s eyes might be opened. Suddenly the servant “ looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). The prophet was guarded by an angelic army! Angels. The Hebrew and the Greek words translated “ angel” mean literally, “ messenger.” These messengers are directly created beings who do not reproduce or die (cf. Luke 20:34-37). While they are different from human beings, the Bible suggests that they are like us in many ways. Angels are known to be superior to humans, particularly in power and knowledge (cf. 2 Samuel 14:17, 2 Samuel 14:20; Psalms 2:7; 2 Peter 2:11). There are evil as well as good angels, though the evil angels are more commonly called demons in the Gospels. The Bible suggests that angels, like human beings, had freedom of choice. Some of them chose to follow Satan when he rebelled against God (cf. Matthew 25:41). Hebrews suggests that the angels who remained faithful to God are His agents for good in human affairs. The Book of Hebrews calls them “ ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14) who are commissioned to aid God’ s saints. The protective screen of angels that surrounded Elisha provide one example of the ministry of angels. The Bible records a number of appearances by angels to human beings. At times they appeared in human form (cf. Genesis 18:2; Joshua 5:13; etc.). Daniel saw an angel as a brightly shining being, as did the women who went to Jesus’ empty tomb (cf. Daniel 10:5-6; Luke 24:4). Despite the many references to angels in the Bible, it is clear that Scripture does not focus on these beings. They are God’ s servants, but are not the central objects of His concern. Strikingly, God is concerned primarily with human beings. God the Son became a human being, not an angel. And His death was to redeem humankind. Though we are now a little less than the angels, in Christ we human beings will be catapulted far above them. As Scripture says, “ Surely it is not angels [God] helps, but Abraham’ s descendants” (Hebrews 2:16). In the end we will be lifted above the angels, to know the fullness of God’ s grace. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Lead your group in a concordance study of angels. A concordance is an important Bible study tool to which you can introduce any students who may not be familiar with it. A concordance lists, in alphabetical order, all significant Bible terms, showing where they appear in the Bible. Use the above in a minilecture of background on angels. Then distribute concordances, or Xerox copies of a concordance page on angels. Let your group members explore for some 15 minutes, and then come together to report what they learned about angels from a description of their appearances in the text. NOTE: Be ready to deal with questions that may be raised about the “ angel of the Lord.” Many believe that this title indicates the Being who appeared was God Himself (cf. Genesis 31:11-13; Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 3:6). Some believe that these were appearances of Jesus before His incarnation. Blindness. The angels surrounding Elisha did not intervene — at least directly. The prophet prayed that the enemy would be stricken with a “ blindness” that kept them from realizing where they were. Elisha then led them right into Israel’ s capital city, Samaria, where their eyes were opened and they realized they were captives. At Elisha’ s instruction, the embarrassed captives were fed and then returned to their master. For a time the Arameans stopped raiding Israel’ s territory. Famine. Later Ben-Hadad of Syria launched a full-scale attack on Israel. The capital city was under siege for such a long time that all food supplies were exhausted. Some who were starving had even eaten their own children (2 Kings 6:27-29). In this situation the king of Israel began to blame Elisha, God’ s prophet! The king could not see that his own sins, and the sins of his family in introducing the worship of Baal into Israel, had brought on this disaster. When the king came to confront Elisha, the prophet announced that the very next day food would be cheap in Samaria. One of the king’ s officers scoffed. Even if God sent food directly from heaven, what the prophet foretold could not happen! But it did happen! That night the Lord caused the Arameans “ to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army.” Supposing that the Egyptians and Hittites had come to rescue Samaria, the Arameans abandoned their camp and all its supplies and ran for their lives! Meanwhile four lepers, crouching outside the city gate, decided they might as well surrender to the Arameans. If they stayed, they would die. If they surrendered, they might be spared. But when they arrived they found the enemy lines deserted. They wandered through the camp, eating and drinking, and picking up gold and silver and clothing to hide. Then they paused. It just was not right to enjoy so much food and wealth while their countrymen were starving. “ This is a day of good news,” they said, “ and we are keeping it to ourselves” (2 Kings 7:9). When the report was carried to the king he feared the Arameans had laid a trap. But when some soldiers followed the trail of the enemy they learned that the Syrians truly had run. The starving people flooded out of the city and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Just as Elisha had foretold, food was suddenly plentiful and cheap. And the officer who had laughed at the prophet’ s promise saw — but did not eat of that plenty. He was trampled to death by the people in their desperate rush to the food. Hazael identified. When King Ben-Hadad became sick, he sent Hazael to ask Elisha if he would recover. Elisha wept when he looked piercingly at Hazael. Hazael was to tell Ben-Hadad that his illness was not fatal. But Elisha also told Hazael that he would one day be king of Aram (Syria). Elisha wept because he foresaw the devastation that Hazael and his armies would wreak in Israel. Hazael delivered the good news to Ben-Hadad. But the next day Hazael suffocated the king, and took his throne. Elisha ministered during trying days for Israel. Yet the prophet faithfully represented the Lord, offering help even to apostate Israel in the wars with the Arameans. At the same time, Elisha maintained a close and caring ministry to the common people of the land. How amazing that, with countless incidents demonstrating God’ s love and His power, Elisha’ s ministry was largely rejected. Naaman, the Syrian general, needed only one touch of the Lord’ s power to acknowledge and worship God. But multiplied evidences failed to touch the heart of Israel’ s own king, or of most of the leading people. An Israel that would not listen to God was surely doomed to destruction.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read quickly, as if a novel, 2 Kings 1:1-8:15, and jot down your dominant impressions.

Explore

1. Ask your group members to list, without looking up, as many of Elisha’ s miracles as they can. What do the results suggest about their familiarity with this key Old Testament prophet?
2. Or, briefly sketch the political and international situation in Elisha’ s time as background for his miracles and ministry.
3. Or, tell your group members each has been suddenly told he or she must speak to a group about Elisha. Randomly assign each person one of the following passages. In 10 minutes each is to determine the point he or she will make in that talk, and the lesson he or she will try to drive home. The passages: 2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 2:23-25, 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Kings 5:1-27; 2 Kings 6:8-23, 6:24-7:20.

Expand

1. Develop the best known of the Elisha stories, that of the healing of Naaman. Use the “ link-to-life” study process above to help your group members focus on application to their own lives.
2. Or, lead your group in a concordance study of the role of angels. See the process outlined in the “ link-to-life” above.

Apply Encourage each member of your group to tell one other person this week what he or she learned from the study of Elisha the prophet.